Well packers



May 4, 1965 Filed June 20, 1960 C. C- BROWN WELL PACKERS 3 Sheets-Sheetl C/CERO C.BAOW/V INVENTOR. I

mile MM. 24 ATTO/P/VE 5 y 1965 c. c. BROWN 3,181,514

WELL PACKERS Filed June 20, 1960 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3;" 6 C/CERO CBROWNJNVENTOR.

May 4, 1965 Filed June 20, 1960 C. C- BROWN WELL PACKERS 3 Sheets-Sheet3 giww Wild g1? ATTORNEYS United States Patent 7 3,181,614 WELL PACKERSCicero C. Brown, 8490 Katy Road, Houston, Tex. Filed June 20, 1960, Ser.No. 37,220

4 Claims. (Cl. 166-122) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in well packers.

It is one object of the invention to provide an improved well packer ofthe permanent type having means for effectively setting and anchoringthe packer within a well bore and for permanently maintaining saidpacker in its set and anchored position.

An important object is to provide an permanent-type well packer devicewherein the upper and lower gripping members are molded or otherwisesecured to the elastic packing or sealing element and are movableoutwardly into gripping position by the deformation of said packing orsealing element; the gripping teeth or projections of the upper memberbeing disposed in a direction to resist upward movement of the deviceand the gripping teeth or projections of the lower member beingoppositely disposed to resist downward movement, whereby after thepacker device is once set said members maintain it in permanentlyanchored position within the well bore.

A particular object is to provide a well packer, of the characterdescribed, wherein an expander, which effects deformation of the packingor sealing element and outward movement of the gripping members, isconstructed of an elastic material so that said expander, in effect,forms a part of the packing or sealing element; the inherent elasticityor resiliency of said expander developing a force when the packer deviceis in set position which force is constantly applied in a directionholding said device in set position to assure permanent anchoringthereof.

An important object is to provide a well packer, of the characterdescribed, which is adapted to be moved into set position by hydraulicfluid pressure and which has a dual piston and cylinder arrangementwhereby increased pressure area is exposed to the actuating pressure andincreased force is thereby applied to the packing element and anchoringmeans to properly set the same.

Still another object is to provide a well packer, of the characterdescribed, wherein an annular deformable bridging member may be disposedadjacent the segmental gripping slips of the packer, which member isdeformed to bridge the annular gap between the packer and well pipe tothereby prevent undesirable extrusion of the mater al of the packingelement upwardly from between the gripping slips.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereor, wherein an example of the invention is shown,and where- FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in section and partly inelevation, of a well packer constructed in accordance with the inventionand showing the same in an unset position;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view, with the packer in set position;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 ofFIGURE 1;

3,181,614- Patented May 4, 1965 FIGURE 4 is a partial, verticalsectional view illustrating a modified form of packing element;

FIGURE 5 is a view, similar to FIGURE 1, of another form of the wellpacker with the same in an unset position;

FIGURE 6 is the packer of FIGURE 5 in fully set position;

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating ing the packer ofFIGURES 1 and 2, employed with dual tubing strings; and,

FIGURE 8 is a similar view, illustrating the packer of FIGURES 5 and 6employed with a dual tubing string.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a tubular mandrel or supporthaving an axial bore 11 extending entirely therethrough. As will beexplained in detail, the mandrel or main support 10 has a packingelement assembly A mounted on its upper portion with a hydraulicallyactuated setting means, generally indicated at B, carried by the supportbelow said assembly. The device is adapted to be lowered within a wellcasing C by means of a well pipe or tubing T, and when disposed indesired position in the casing, the hydraulically acuated means B isoperated to deform the packing element assembly A into sealing position.Anchoring means in the form of segmental gripping members or slips 13and 13a are embedded in the upper and lower outer peripheral portions ofthe assembly A and when said assembly is deformed into sealing positionthe gripping members are moved into gripping contact with the wellcasing to anchor the device therein.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the lower end of the mandrel or support 10 isexternally threaded and has an annular block or base 14 secured thereto;the base functions as a lower piston which co-acts with an elongatecylinder 15 which encircles the support in spaced relationship thereto.The cylinder has its lower portion surrounding the annular base piston14 and is initially releasably attached thereto by a shear pin 16. Theupper end of said cylinder is threaded to the lower portion of anannular abutment 17 which forms the lower end of the assembly A. Anintermediate annular piston member 18 is secured to the mandrel and islocated within the cylinder 15 to divide the interior of the cylinderinto an upper cylinder area 15a and a lower cylinder area 1512 (FIGURE2); suitable seals are carried by the piston member to seal with thewalls of the mandrel and cylinder. A seal ring 19 which slidablysurrounds the mandrel is supported on a shoulder with the upper end ofthe cylinder 15 and engages the underside of the abutment 17, said ringfunctioning to seal off the upper cylinder area 15a. A second seal 20 issecured within the bore of the cylinder and slidably surrounds themandrel to be movable within the lower cylin der area 1511.

When the cylinder is in the position of FIGURE 1 with the shear pin 16connecting the cylinder to the base piston 14, the intermediate piston18 abuts the underside of the upper seal ring 19 of the cylinder 15. Atthis time the lower seal ring 2% of the cylinder 15 is engaging theupper surface of said base piston. For directing pressure into thecylinder area 15a, a pressure fluid inlet port 21 extends through thewall of the mandrel and establishes a communication between the bore 11of said mandrel and the cylinder area 15a between the upper seal ring 19and the intermediate piston 18; a similar port 22 shear the pin 16, thecylinder 15 and seal rings 19 and'20 move upwardly relative tothemandrel to 'apply an upward force to the abutment'17.

As has been noted, the abutment17 forms the low'er element of thepackingelement assembly. {The particular packing element assembly A illustratedin FIGURE 1' comprises a central annular expander 26 which surrounds'theflapper valve 38 may be pivotally connected tothe lower end of theannular base 14 and the tubular conductor 37 has suificient length toextend downwardly past the flapper valve to maintain the same in openposition. An upper seal'39 is disposed between the tubular conductor 7 36 and'the bore'11 of the mandrel'10, 'whilea lower seal 39a seals'ohbetween said eonductor 36 and the annular V f base 14. "The area betweenthe upper and lower seals 38 and 39, as shown inZFIGURE 1, provides anannular inlet ports 21 and 22fwhich direct pressure to the upper andlower .cylinderarease and 15b. Forconductin'g' tubular mandrel orsupport 10. Theupper' portion of'rthe expander is formed with an'inwar'dly andlup'wardly -di-,

rected inclined surface 26a while the lower portion there'- of has aninwardly'and downwardly inclined surface 26b.

spacef ttl which is in communication'fwith the pressure pressure'fromthe tubing string T and the inner conductor 37 to the annular spaceAi),said inner conductor is formed with a-lradial port 41 which is locatedbetween the annular J seals 39.-and 39a. From the port 41, pressure fromthe An upper sealing ring 27 surrounds the mandrel and has 7 7 its majorportion overlying the inclined surface 26a of the expander 26 and abovethis ring a second sealing ring 28 is provided. An annular abutment 2 9confines the uppermost sealing ring 28 and is in turn held againstupward displacement by a retaining collar 30 which is threaded onto theupper end of the mandrel or tubular support 10. With this arrangement,the upper end of the assembly A is confined against upward movement onthe mandrel. 7

Below the expander 26 is a sealing ring 27a similar to the ring 27except that it is upwardly directed to over: 7

lie the major portion of the inclined surface 26b of said expander. Alowermost sealing ring 28a is located below the sealing ring 27a. Thelower end of sealing ring 28a abuts and, if desired, may be molded orotherwise secured to the movable annular abutment 17. It will thus beseen that the assembly A shown in FIGURES land .2 is

' made up, of the elasticexpander 26 and the superposed sealingrings'27,'28, 27a and 28a. Since the upper end of the assembly is heldagainst upward movement, upward movement, of the'lower abutment 17,applies an endwise compressive forceto the assembly A, defo rming the.sealing rings and expander in the manner shown in FIGURE For anchoringthe packing 'element assembly in the well wise firmly attached to theuppermost sealing ring 28 and at its upper end each slip is formedwith'an inwardly directed lug 31 which engageswithin an annular groove32 provided in the upper abutment 29. Similarly,'each lower slip 13a hasits major portion molded or otherwise secured to the lower sealing ring28a and is formed tubing string may pass downwardly into theannular'passage. '40 and then to the inlet ports 21 and 22, whereby pressure maybeapplied to the under side of the upper and lower seal rings 19 and 20and thereby apply an upward force to the cylinder 15, V In the operationof the well'packer, the device, is assembled as shown in FIGURE 1, andis connected to the well tubing string through the shear pin 36. At suchtime the inner tubular V conductor 37 extends entirely 7 through themandrel or support 10 and projects outwardly from the lowerend thereofto. hold the flapper valve 38 in open position. When thepacker hastbeenlowered to the point at which it is to be set within the well casing C,a closure which is shown in the form of a ball 42 is dropped downwardlythroughthe tubing and inner conductor 37 to engage a seat43 at thelowerend thereof to close the; bore of said conductor. Thereafter, thepressure within the tubing string may be built up and this pressure isdirected through the'port; 41 in the wall of the inner conductor 37,passes downwardly through the -flowing through ports 21"and V22,pressure, is introduced into the. cylinder areaslSa and 15band isapplied to the underside 'of the'upper andlower seal rings 19 and 20,respectively. As explain'ed, the upper ring 19 engages the abutment 17of the packing element assembly A,

with an inwardly directed lug 33 which engages an an" nular groove 34 inthe abutment 17.

With this mounting of the segmental slips, the endwise compressive forcewhich will deform the packing element assembly A into its sealingposition will simultaneously. move the upper and lower gripping slipsinto engagement.

with the pipe wall. By reason of the lugs engaging the lateral grooves32 and 34, the slip segments are guided in a straight radial movementwhich results in their 'grip ping teeth engaging the pipe wallthroughout the length of each slip. The upper'slips 13 h-a'vetheirgripping while the lower ring '20 is secured to the cylinder 15 and thisapplication of pressure results in an upward force being applied to thecylinder,15'sufiicient to shear the 'pin 16 and effect an upwardmovement of the cylinder with respect to the mandrel 10; V

The upper end of the. sealing assembly A is confined 7 againstupward'movement by the ,upper retaining collar 50,

30, and as the cylinder 15 is moved upwardly by pressure, an endwiseforce'is appliedto the packing element assembly. vSuch upward forcemoves the various parts of the assembly A to the positionshownin'FIGURE2, i

in which position the elastic members of said assembly have beendeformed and the sealing rings 27, 27a, 28,

28a and the elastic expander 26 are in packing position, being retainedin such position by the engagement of the slipsfwith' the casing wall;additionally, the inherent i elasticity of. the expander 26, which-isattempting to reteeth directed so as to lock the upper portion of the'packer against upward movement within the pipe while the gripping teethof the lower slips 1311 are directed downdownward movement withinthepipe.

W Y to 9 the lower of the s y .agamrstf These slips aredisposed withintheinclined bore of the The mandrel 10 and its associ ted parts areadapted to'be lowered into position by means ofthe well tubingtT,

and connection with the device isinade througha coupling I 35 and shearpin 36, said shear .pin connecting withthe i a upper retaining collar 30oftheassembly. An inner tubular conductor37 has its upper endconnectedto coupling 35 and extends axiallyent-irely through thefdevic'e, .A

" rior of the'mandreln turn to'its normal undistorted position, appliesa constant force threugh the inclined co-acting surfaces of the various'seal rings of'the" assembly to seal rings and slipsto assist in holdingthe unit in anchored positiong To further as'sistin preventing the lowerportion of V the assembly from moving downwardly on the mandrel,additional internal locking slips 44 may be provided.

lower abutment 17 and have their te'ethin engagement with the exteriorsurface of the-mandrel 10f 'It wil1 be evident that when the abutment;17. and slips 44 move upwardly on th e mandrel, any tendency ,of thering to move downwardly will be prevented because the slips 44 will bemoved into tighter engagement with the exte- After thelpackerhas beenset,-it remainsfperrnanently modification of the invention is shown.

anchored in the well casing. When it is desired to remove the tubing T,it is only necessary to shear the pin 36 and to lift the same upwardlyto the surface. At any time that the tubing and the inner conductor 37attached thereto is removed, the flapper valve 38 at the lower end ofthe device will swing to a closed position, and the device becomes afull plug within the well bore.

It is pointed out that during the setting operation the combined totalarea of both of the stationary pistons 14 and 18 and the combined areaof movable rings 19 and 20 are available for the application ofpressure. By locating the intermediate piston 18 within the cylinder 15,two separate cylinders are, in effect, provided and thus the areaavailable for force application by the pressure is doubled. The rings 19and 20 actually work in tandem and this provides for the exertion of avery substantial force which will assure that the packing element A andits anchoring means 13 and 13a are moved into a firm set position.

Although the packer assembly A consisting of a plurality of co-actingelements has been found satisfactory, other types of packing elementscould be employed. In FIGURE 4, a solid sleeve-like packing element 45is illustrated as mounted on the mandrel 10. Upper and lower grippingslips 13 and 13a are embedded in the ends of the packing sleeve and whenan endwise force is applied to the sleeve, said sleeve is deformed intoa sealing position and the slips are moved into anchoring engagementwith the casing. As in the first form, the inherent resiliency of thepacking sleeve 45 which is tending to return the sleeve to its initialundistorted position, is utilized to apply a continuing force to thegripping slips to thereby assure that the device will remain in itsanchored position.

Although the double piston and cylinder arrangement of FIGURES 1 and 2has been found satisfactory, it is not absolutely essential, and inFIGURES 5 and 6 a Referring to FIGURE 5, the packer includes a centraltubular mandrel or support 110 having an annular base 114 secured to itslower end. A cylinder 115 has its lower portion surrounding the base 114and extends upwardly therefrom. As in the first form the base functionsas a stationary piston. An annular seal ring 119 supported within theupper portion of the cylinder 115 is slidable on the mandrel 110 andengages an annular abutment 117 which has threaded connection with theupper end of the cylinder. For conducting pressure into the cylinderarea between the seal ring 119 and stationary piston 114, an inlet port122 is provided in the mandrel and is in communication with an annularpassage 140 formed between the mandrel 110 and an inner conduit 137. Theconduit 137 has a communicating port 141 therein and seals 139 and 139aseal off between the mandrel and conduit at points above and below saidport.

It will be evident that when pressure is conducted downwardly throughthe inner conduit or conductor 137, such pressure may pass through port141, annular space 140, and into inlet port 122 to act against the underside of the seal ring 119. Application of force against the seal ring119 is transmitted to the abutment 117 and cylinder 115 to shear the pin116 and elfect upward movement of the cylinder and abutment. As has beenexplained, this action applies an endwise compressive force to a packingelement assembly A which is mounted on the upper portion of the mandrelabove the piston and cylinder assembly.

The particular packing assembly A shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6 is ofslightly different construction than the packing assembly element A ofFIGURE 1. Referring to FIGURE 5, the assembly A includes a centralexpander 126 which is constructed of an elastic packing material andwhich has an inclined surface 126a at its upper end and a similaroppositely inclined surface 1126b at its lower end. A lower sealing ring128a engages the lower portion of expander 126 and has a lower grippingslip 113a embedded or molded in its outer surface. A deformableanti-extrusion ring 50 which may be constructed of lead or other readilydeformable metal surrounds the mandrel irnmediately below the grippingslip 113a. This ring rests upon the upper end of the annular abutment117.

Above the expander 126 of the assembly A, an upper seal ring 128 havingan upper gripping slip 113 embedded therein is provided. A deformableanti-extrusion ring 51, similar in construction to the ring 50, overliesthe upper gripping slip and a retaining collar 133, which is threadedonto the upper end of the mandrel, retains the upper end of the assemblyin place.

When the packer of FIGURE 5 is properly positioned within the wellcasing C, a closure or ball 42 is dropped downwardly to seat on anannular seat 143 at the lower end of the inner conductor 137 andthereafter pressure is applied through the tubing string T. Thispressure passes through poit 141, annular space 140 and pressure inletport 122 to act against the lower end of the seal ring 119. Uponsufficient force being applied, the pin 116 is sheared and the cylinderand abutment 117 move upwardly to apply an endwise force to the lowerend of the packing element assembly A. The upper end of the assembly isheld against movement by the retaining collar 133 and upward movement ofthe cylinder and abutment 117 results in a deformation of the assembly Ato the position shown in FIGURE 6. In such position, the expander 126,the seal rings 128 and 128:: and the deformable metal rings 50 and 51are distorted as shown. The anti-extrusion rings 50 and 51 moveoutwardly into contact with the inner bore of the well casing and at thesame time the gripping slips 113 and 113a are set into anchoredposition. Distortion of the sealing rings and the expander eifectivelyform a seal with the wall of the casing. As in the first form of theinvention, the inherent elasticity of the ex pander exerts a constantforce which maintains the gripping slips in their engaged or anchoredposition. The deformation of the metallic rings 56 and 51 will preventany flow of elastic material from between the slip segments andoutwardly into the annular space between the packing device and thecasing wall. If desired, the assembly may be additionally locked in itsdeformed or set position by gripping slips 144 which are confined withinthe sleeve 117; these slips function in the manner described withrespect to the slips 44 in FIGURE 1, and engage the wall of the mandrelto prevent the lower portion of the assembly A from moving downwardly.

In both forms of the invention, the packing element assembly is deformedinto sealing position, and is thereafter maintained in such position asa permanent packer. The sealing elements of the assembly including theexpander are all constructed of an elastic material. Therefore, when andif it becomes necessary to drill out the packer, such drilling outoperation is relatively easy because it is only necessary to drill offthe metallic upper slip segments. No other hard metal need be cut awayin order to permit removal of the packer from the casing.

In FIGURES 1, 2, 5 and 6 the well packer assembly has been shown as runon a single string of tubing. It has been found, however, that theparticular packers of FIG- URES l and 5 are applicable for dualproduction and in FIGURE 7 the packer of FIGURE 1 is shown in connectionwith a dual tubing string. In this case, the bore 10 through the mandrelis somewhat enlarged and an elongate housing 60 having longitudinalpassages 61 and 62 extending therethrough is disposed within the bore.This housing is connected to the annular base 14 by a shear pin 63. Afirst tubing string T1 has connection with the passage tl and the lowerend of this tubing string (not shown) passes downwardly, usually througha second packer, to communicate with a lower production zone. The secondpassage 62 has a second tubing string T2 connected there with and thelower end of this passage and string is in communication with an upperproducing zone. 7 The operation of the packer would be exactly asheretofore described with pressure being applied to the inlet ports '21and 22 through an inlet port 64 which extends from'the passage 62. Thus,by dropping a ball or closure 42, shown in dotted lines inFIGURE 7, ontoa seatat the lower end of passage 62, the tubing string T2 may bepressured up to apply pressure. againstthe ,seal rings 19 and 20 andthereby effect a setting of the packer. p

In FIGURE 8 the form of'packer shown in FIGURE 5 is illustrated in usewith'a dual tubing'string. In thisjcase the housing 60 having passages61 and 62 extends through;

the bore 110 of the packer and is connected to the annular base 114 bythe shear pin 63. The tubing strings T1v and T2 are connected in themanner described with respect to FIGURE 7. Here again, the passage. 62has the pressure port 64 and when the closure 42 illustrated in dottedlines in FIGURE 8 is dropped to close the tubing string T2, this stringmay ,bepre'ssured ,up to apply upward force to the seal ring 118 andcylinder 115. Such application of pressure applies endwise force tothepacking element assembly A to set the same. i

In all forms of the invention a permanent type packer is provided whichcan be effectively set to permanently anchor the device within a wellcasing. In the first form of the invention the dual cylinder areas aand15b are provided to increase the available area against which pressureforce may be applied. The segmental gripping slips 13 and 13a aremounted for movement only in a lateral or radial direction so that thegripping teeth thereof contact the wall of the casing throughout thelength of each slip. The application of endwise force to the assemblyresults in a simultaneous deformation of the elastic ele-, ments of theassembly and of the radial movement of the slips into gripping position.

when it becomeslnecessary to remove the same from the well, isfacilitated. V

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof and various 7 changes in the size,shape and materials, as well as in the v V After the packer is set, itis permanently anchored and retained in position with the normal elasticcharacteristic downwardly and inwardly inclined surface at its lowerportion, an upper annular sealing element surrounding the upper portionof the expander and'co-acting with the upper inclinedsurface thereof,and a lower sealing element surrounding the lower portion of theexpander and co-acting the lower. inclined 'surface thereof, theapplication of an endwise compressive'force to the packing meanseffecting an outward radial deformation of the sealing elements and thecentral portion of the expander.

2. A well packer for use in a well pipe including, a tubular support, 'apackingelement. assembly mounted on the support and including elasticpacking means, anchoring .mernbers adjacent one end portion of saidelastic packing-means and co=actingtherewith whereby deformation of thepacking means of said assembly simultaneously moves the anchoringmembers into gripping position with the well pipe,means on the supportconfining one end of the assembly against-upward movement, an abutmentengaging the'lower, endof the assembly and movable on the supportwherebyupward movement of said abutment on the support will apply anendwise compressive force to the assembly to deform the elastic packingmeans thereof radially outwardly into sealing position with the wellpipe, a cylinder and piston carried by the suppont below the abutment,means for directing pressure fluid into the cylinder to cause relativemovement of thecylinder and piston, means for transmitting the relativemovement of said cylinder and piston to the abuttment to move the sameupwardly and thereby deform .the elastic packing means of the assemblyinto sealing position with the well pipe said elastic p-acking tm'eanscomprising an annular expander of deformable material and upper andlower annular sealing elements, an expander having upper and lowerinclined external surfaces which aretenga'ged by a complementaryinclined surface on the bore of each sealing element, whereby endwisecompressive force effects a radial deformation of the sealing eleriientsas well as a radial deformation of the central portion of the expander.v V

3.'A well packer as set forth in claim- 1 wherein saidhydraulically-actuated means comprises ajcylinder encircling the tubularsupport in spaced relationship thereto details of theillustratediconstruction, maybe made within the scope of the appendedclaims without depart ing from the spirit of the invention. What I claimis: t r

l. A'well p ackerfor use in a Well pipe including, a

tubular support, a packing element assemblyr'nounted on said support and'includin'gelastic packing mearis which is deformable radially outwardlyinto sealing engagemen-t with the well pipe by an endwise compressive.

force, means on the support confining the upper end of the packing meansagainst upward movement on thesulpport, hydraulically-actuated -meansmovable on the support and engagejableywiith the lower end of the'packing means whereby operation of sai-d'hydraulically-actuated meansdeformzsthe packing means into. sealing position, upper segmentalgripping slips embedded in'the upper outer peripheral portion of the[packing means, lower seg mental gripping slips embedded in the lowerouter periph eral portion' of said packing means, means for guiding eachslipsegment in a direction radially of the tubular support,wherebyde'for'rnation of the packing means into sealing position resultsin a radially outward movement of the upper and lower slip: segmentsinto anchoring en gage-merit withthe pipe wall, said'elastic packingmeans. comprising an annular expander which encircles the tubu1larsu-pport and which is constructed of elastic material, 7 I

said expander having itstexter-ior formed withan upwardly and inwardlyinclined surfacev atitsupper portion anda and having its upper endsecured to and extending downwardly from the lower end of said packingmeans, a base piston member secured to the support and having the lowerportion 'of the cylinder encircling the same, an intermediate annularJPlSIOl'I secured to the'support and dividing the interior of.thetCylinder into two cylinder areas, annular seal rings secured withinthe bore of the cylinder and co-acting with the base piston memher andthe'intermediate piston, wherebythe operating fluid directed intotheai'easof the cylinder below said seal rings imparts movement to thecylinder to apply an endwise compressive force to the peeking means tothere by deform the packing means into sealing position.

4. A well packer asset forth in claim 1' wherein said hydraulicallyactuated means comprises a cylinder. encirclingthe, tubular support inspaced relationship thereto and having its upper endrsecured to andextending down:

wardly from the lower end o f-said packing means, a base pistonmembersecured to the-support and having the lower portion of the cylinderencircling the same, an

intermediate annular piston secured to the support and dividing theinterior of the" cylinder into two cylin der areas, and annular sealrings secured -within the bore of. the cylinder and co-acting with thebase piston memher and the intermediate piston, whereby the operatinglfluid directed into the Iar'easof the cylinder below said seal ringsimparts movement to the cylinder to apply an endwisecornpressive forceto'the packing means to thereby deform the packing meansinto sealingposition, said tubular support having an inlet port therein locatedimmediately above thebase piston member, and a second port immediatelyabove the intermediate, annular piston,

9 16 whereby the operating pressure fluid may be supplied to 2,652,8949/53 Brown et a1. 166134 the cylinder from the bore of said tubularsupport. 2,695,064 11/ 54 Ragan et a1. 166134 2,857,972 10/58 Baker166204 References Cited by the Examiner 2,884,070 4/59 P tt 166.421UNITED STATES A S 5 2,903,066 9/59 Brown 166134 2,961,047 11/60 Medford166123 iggggg Z22 22 g: iggjgg 2,991,833 7/61 Brown et a1. 166-1872,467,801 4/49 Baker 166120 1 2,609,879 9/52 Webber 166 120 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Prilmary Exammer. 2,647,584 8/53 Baker et al 166-134 BENJAMINBENDETT, Exammer-

2. A WELL PACKER FOR USE IN A WELL PIPE INCLUDING, A TUBULAR SUPPORT, APACKING ELEMENT ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT AND INCLUDING ELASTICPACKING MEANS, ANCHORING MEMBERS ADJACENT ONE END PORTION OF SAIDELASTIC PACKING MEANS AND CO-ACTING THEREWITH WHEREBY DEFORMATION OF THEPACKING MEANS OF SAID ASSEMBLY SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVES THE ANCHORINGMEMBERS INTO GRIPPING POSITION WITH THE WELL PIPE, MEANS ON THE SUPPORTCONFINING ONE END OF THE ASSEMBLY AGAINST UPWARD MOVEMENT, AN ABUTMENTENGAGING THE LOWER END OF THE ASSEMBLY AND MOVABLE ON THE SUPPORTWHEREBY UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENT ON THE SUPPORT WILL APPLY ANENDWISE COMPRESSIVE FORCE TO THE ASSEMBLY TO DEFORM THE ELASTIC PACKINGMEANS THEREOF RADIALLY OUTWARDLY INTO SEALING POSITION WITH THE WELLPIPE, A CYLINDER AND PISTON CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT BELOW THE ABUTMENT,MEANS FOR DIRECTING PRESSURE FLUID INTO THE CYLINDER TO CAUSE RELATIVEMOVEMENT OF THE CYLINDER AND PISTON, MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING THE RELATIVEMOVEMENT OF SAID CYLINDER AND PISTON TO THE ABUTMENT TO MOVE THE SAMEUPWARDLY AND THEREBY DEFORM THE ELATIC PACKING MEANS OF THE ASSEMBLYINTO SEALING POSITION WITH THE WELL PIPE, SAID ELASTIC PACKING MEANSCOMPRISING AN ANNULAR EXPANDER OF DEFORMABLE MATERIAL AND UPPER ANDLOWER ANNULAR SEALING ELEMENTS, AN EXPANDER HAVING UPPER AND LOWERINCLINED EXTERNAL SURFACES WHICH ARE ENGAGED BY A COMPLEMENTARY INCLINEDSURFACE ON THE BORE OF EACH SEALING ELEMENT, WHEREBY ENDWISE COMPRESSIVEFORCE EFFECTS A RADIAL DEFORMATION OF THE SEALING ELEMENTS AS WELL AS ARADIAL DEFORMATION OF THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE EXPANDER.